On 28 February, in the mountains of Monte Cimone, Italy, the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team unveiled its Yamaha R7 challenger for the upcoming FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship season. Reigning WorldWCR Champion Maria Herrera and Natalia Rivera are set to embark on an exciting 2026 campaign, aiming to fight at the front of the field.
Maria Herrera (29) joins the team as one of the most experienced and accomplished riders on the international stage. After competing in Moto3 and spending multiple seasons in MotoE — as the only female rider in the class — she also gained valuable experience within the WorldSBK paddock in WorldSSP300 and WorldSSP, consistently demonstrating competitiveness and adaptability across categories.
In 2024, she emerged as a title contender in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship before securing the 2025 World Championship with an outstanding campaign of six victories and four additional podium finishes. With 12 wins and 19 podiums across just two WorldWCR seasons, Herrera brings proven performance, leadership and a championship-winning mentality to the team.
Natalia Rivera (18) prepares for her second season in WorldWCR following a promising 2025 campaign. The young Spaniard had already made a name for herself in the WorldSBK paddock prior to her World Championship debut, claiming a podium at the 2022 bLU cRU World Cup Superfinale. Two years later, in 2024, she secured the FIM Women’s European Cup title after a dominant season.
In 2025, shortly after turning 18, she made her WorldWCR debut with the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team. During her rookie season, she steadily improved at each round, closing the gap to the front-runners and establishing herself as a consistent contender. With a year of experience now behind her, Rivera’s objective is clear: to fight regularly at the front and secure her first WorldWCR podium.
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team is ready to embrace the challenge ahead. The team is also pleased to confirm the return of several key partners, while welcoming new collaborators for the 2026 season, all of whom will play an important role in the squad’s continued growth and success.
Maria Herrera: “We are about to begin a new season, and I am very pleased to start this chapter with the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team. They are a highly professional and experienced organisation, and they have established themselves as a reference within the WorldSBK category. I believe we share the same working philosophy and performance objectives, which is fundamental for building a strong and competitive project together. As reigning WorldWCR Champion, our objective is clearly to defend the title. We are aware that the level of the championship continues to increase, so consistency and attention to detail will be crucial throughout the season. Together with the team, we will focus on maximising performance at every round and maintaining a high standard from the start. I am motivated and fully committed to achieving our goals in 2026.”
“I’m really excited to start this new season and to continue working with the team. Last year was an important learning experience for all of us, and we made constant progress throughout the championship. Now it’s time to take the next step. We finished 2025 close to the front group, and the goal this season is to be there consistently and fight for our first podium. I feel more confident, more prepared and more determined than ever. Having Maria as a teammate is a huge opportunity — she’s a benchmark in this championship, and I want to learn everything I can from her. I’m hungry to improve and ready to prove myself.” “Non vedo l’ora di tornare in pista e di iniziare questa nuova stagione insieme al team. Lo scorso anno è stato un periodo molto importante per imparare e crescere, e abbiamo fatto progressi costanti durante tutto il campionato. Ora è il momento di fare il passo successivo. Nel 2025 ci siamo avvicinati molto al gruppo di testa e l’obiettivo di quest’anno è stare lì in modo costante e lottare per il primo podio. Mi sento più sicura, più preparata e più determinata che mai. Avere Maria come compagna di squadra è un’opportunità enorme: è un punto di riferimento per tutti noi e voglio imparare il più possibile da lei. Ho tanta voglia di migliorare e di dimostrare il mio valore.”
Ayrton Badovini (Team Manager): “It promises to be an exciting season, and our expectations are naturally high. Maria needs no introduction — she is not only the reigning WorldWCR Champion, but also one of the most experienced and accomplished riders on the international stage. Our objective is clear: to defend the crown, and we will work tirelessly to achieve that goal. At the same time, we are delighted to continue our journey with Natalia. She demonstrated significant progress throughout her first WorldWCR season, improving at every round. With greater mutual understanding and another year of experience, we are confident we can consistently fight within the leading group. The aim is to grow together and maintain competitiveness at every round. We are all looking forward to getting back on track — and with Round 1 less than a month away, the countdown has already begun.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team duo of Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi secured points on the final day of action at the iconic Phillip Island Circuit, Australia, finishing 14th and 15th respectively in Race 2.
Despite overnight rainfall, conditions were dry for the morning Warm Up session, allowing both riders to complete valuable laps ahead of the races. Manzi finished the session in 15th position, while Gardner was 20th.
Later in the day, local hero Gardner made a strong start in the dry Tissot Superpole Race. Over the 10-lap sprint, he battled intensely until the final lap, where an unfortunate clash dropped him to 16th place, meaning he would start Race 2 from 14th on the grid.
As rain returned, Race 2 was declared wet. Gardner made a solid start and showed competitive pace in the early stages. However, grip issues in the closing laps limited his progress, and he ultimately brought the bike home in 14th place after the 22-lap contest.
Rookie Stefano Manzi delivered an impressive Superpole Race, fighting hard throughout. A stunning final lap allowed him to climb through the field and finish 13th. In Race 2, Manzi struggled to find confidence in his first-ever wet WorldSBK race, but still managed to secure his first championship point with a 15th-place finish.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team will return to action on 9–10 March for a test session at the Autodromo do Algarve, ahead of Round 2 of the season at the same venue on 27–29 March.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: P16 / Race 2: P14
“It’s been a tough weekend, honestly, but we can still take some positives. We made progress overall, and I was able to ride despite the injury, which is important. I’m happy to have finished the races and gathered valuable data. Now we head back to Europe, where we’ll return to the tyres we’re more familiar with. We also have a test in Portimão before the race, so hopefully we can find more speed, regroup, and come back stronger.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole Race: P13 / Race 2: P15
“It was a crazy Sunday due to the changing weather conditions, even from the morning. Thankfully, we were able to complete some dry laps in Warm Up and then race in dry conditions in the Superpole Race. The feeling improved a lot compared to yesterday, and I really enjoyed the battles. Unfortunately, Race 2 was much more difficult. I felt confident going into the wet race after our test in Jerez, but the feeling wasn’t there, and I couldn’t ride the way I wanted. We’ll keep working to improve and, back in Europe, I hope we can make a step forward.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team endured a difficult Saturday at the iconic Phillip Island Circuit, as both Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi were forced to retire from Race 1 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Local hero Gardner began the day with Free Practice 3, completing several useful laps ahead of Tissot Superpole and Race 1. In qualifying, the Australian produced a solid lap but narrowly missed out on a third-row start, eventually securing 14th place with a time of 1’29.435.
In Race 1, the #87 made a strong start, gaining positions on the opening lap and showing competitive pace while remaining in contention for a top-ten finish. However, grip issues emerged in the second half of the race. Despite pushing hard to salvage a result, Gardner was unfortunately forced to retire in the closing stages.
On the other side of the garage, rookie Manzi faced a demanding Saturday during his first-ever WorldSBK weekend. After qualifying 18th on the grid with a 1’30.380 lap, the reigning WorldSSP Champion worked his way into points contention during the race. Sadly, with 13 laps remaining, the Italian rider was also forced to retire due to unforeseen circumstances.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha duo will return to action tomorrow for the final day of racing, beginning with the Warm Up session at 10:00 local time. The day continues with the Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps) at 13:00, followed by Race 2 (22 laps) at 16:00.
Remy Gardner – Superpole: P14 / Race 1: DNF
“We had quite a positive Superpole after struggling yesterday, and we improved the bike a lot and we only missed a few tenths to be in the top ten. In the race I felt quite good in the first ten laps, and was quite surprised with how much we had improved the set up. Unfortunately the last few laps were a bit difficult and we suffered with a lack of rear grip and I had to retire, hopefully we can sort the issue for tomorrow and bring home a result for the Australian fans.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole: P18 / Race 1: DNF
“This morning in qualifying, I did not find the best feeling with the qualifying tyre so I was not so quick. In the race, we made a big change to the bike because we want to keep trying. Unfortunately, this modification created a bit of a problem for me and this meant I had to retire, I am sad to retire from my first race but we will try again tomorrow.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action today as the FIM World Superbike Championship got underway for 2026 at the iconic Phillip Island Circuit, with Stefano Manzi and Remy Gardner ending up 17th and 19th on combined times.
Rookie Stefano Manzi continued his adaptation to the Yamaha R1 during his first WorldSBK race weekend. In Free Practice 1, the Italian focused on improving his overall feeling with the bike, finishing 19th with a lap time of 1’30.577. In the afternoon session, the reigning WorldSSP Champion turned his attention to long runs in preparation for race conditions, while still managing to improve on used tyres to end the day 17th with a best lap of 1’30.388.
Local hero Remy Gardner endured a demanding opening day but gathered valuable data across both free practice sessions. Focusing on understanding the new Pirelli rear tyre, the Australian prioritised consistency over outright lap time. He finished 17th in the morning session with a 1’30.554, before continuing his long-run programme in the afternoon and concluding the day 19th with a time of 1’30.707.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha duo will return to the track tomorrow, with Superpole qualifying scheduled for 13:00 local time, followed by Race 1 at 16:00 as the 2026 season officially gets underway.
Stefano Manzi: P17 (1’30.388)
“Finally, we’re back racing for real! It was a solid day, and it’s always great to ride here at Phillip Island, especially with such nice weather. We know there’s still a lot of work to do, but this afternoon we were able to take a good step forward. That gives us confidence to keep improving, and I can’t wait for the first race.”
Remy Gardner: P19 (1’30.707)
“To be honest, it was a challenging day, but it’s always nice to be back racing, especially here at such a special place. Overall, the feeling is different compared to the test, maybe because of the new tyre, but we’ll keep working hard to improve. We’ll do our best tomorrow and I’m confident we can take a step forward.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team wrapped up its final pre-season test on 16–17 February at Phillip Island, Australia, with Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi completing valuable mileage ahead of the 2026 WorldSBK season opener, set to take place at the same venue on 20–22 February.
Local hero Gardner returned to action as he continued preparations for the upcoming campaign. On Day 1, the Australian focused primarily on regaining confidence aboard the Yamaha R1 and working through his test programme rather than chasing outright lap times. He completed 61 laps during the session, setting a personal best of 1’31.350 to finish 21st on the combined timesheets.
On Day 2, Gardner maintained his testing approach, concentrating on evaluating components and refining bike settings with an eye on the race weekend ahead. After completing a solid number of laps, he ended the day with good progress, improving his lap time to clock a 1'30.269 to place 17th overall at the end of the two days.
On the other side of the garage, rookie Manzi enjoyed an eventful but productive final test in Australia. Experiencing the Yamaha R1 at Phillip Island for the first time, the reigning WorldSSP Champion adapted quickly on Day 1, despite an early crash. Undeterred, the Italian rider completed 70 laps across the session, recording a personal best of 1’30.623 to place 13th at the end of the day.
Manzi continued to build momentum on Day 2, immediately improving his lap time in the morning to go over half a second quicker than his Day 1 best. Unfortunately, a crash at Turn 2 cut his morning short after just 15 laps, forcing him to miss the remainder of the session. He still managed to set the 14th fastest time with a 1’30.110.
Declared fit to continue, Manzi returned for the afternoon session. Although feeling the effects of the earlier incident, he completed further useful laps with a focus on race preparation. He ended the test with additional valuable mileage, with 49 laps in total, rounding out a positive final pre-season outing ahead of his WorldSBK debut, finishing 15th on combined standings.
Stefano Manzi: P15 (1’30.110)
“It’s definitely been a thrilling two days of testing. I’m happy to be back on the bike and finally get some dry track time, although it was also demanding with the two crashes. Thankfully, I was able to get back on the bike both times, and I’d like to thank the whole team for the great work they did. We managed to complete some useful laps ahead of the race and made good progress. We know it’s a long road and there’s still room to improve, but we’re confident we can continue to move forward.”
Remy Gardner: P17 (1’30.269)
“It hasn’t been the easiest couple of days, but I knew it would be tricky here. I’m still struggling a bit physically, but it should improve during the week, so I’m staying confident. I’m happy we were able to finalise some work on the setup and try a few things ahead of the race weekend. We now have two days to recover and then we’ll be back, so let’s stay positive.”
Dopo la prima uscita in pista del 2026 a Jerez, il GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team presenta ufficialmente la Yamaha R1 WorldSBK con cui affronterà la prossima stagione del Campionato del Mondo FIM Superbike.
Remy Gardner will once again spearhead the Italian squad, joined by reigning 2025 FIM Supersport World Champion Stefano Manzi, who is set to make his WorldSBK debut this year.
Gardner endured a demanding 2025 WorldSBK season but still achieved significant milestones, including a strong podium finish at Assen and several solid results across the campaign. The 2021 Moto2 World Champion has consistently shown pace aboard the Yamaha R1, though injuries over the past two seasons limited his potential. Now fully fit and focused, the Australian heads into 2026 with a clear objective: to return to the podium on a regular basis.
GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK retains its distinction of fielding two World Champions in 2026, as Manzi steps up from the Supersport class after a dominant 2025 campaign aboard the Yamaha R9. The Italian rider has already made an encouraging start to life in WorldSBK, setting competitive lap times during pre-season testing.
The team is also pleased to welcome back several key partners, while introducing new collaborators for the 2026 season, all of whom will play an important role in the squad’s continued success.
Remy Gardner
“I can’t wait to be back and start a new season. This will be my fourth year with the team and we have great chemistry, so I know we can achieve strong results together. 2025 was a demanding year: we started well and took a strong podium in Assen, but the second half of the season was more difficult, with some unfortunate accidents. I feel good now and I’m confident we can enjoy a strong season together, fighting at the front and improving round by round.”
Stefano Manzi
“Here we are! 2026 will be my rookie season in WorldSBK and I’m really excited to compete in the premier class for the first time. The feeling during the first test sessions was positive, both with the bike and with the team, so I’m looking forward to the season starting. I know the level in WorldSBK is extremely high, so we’ll take it step by step, focusing on improving every session and getting closer each time. I’d like to thank the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and Yamaha for their trust – I’m confident we can do a good job together.”
Filippo Conti (Team Principal)
“We are all very excited for the new season. Having Remy with us again allows us to continue progressing together with a strong foundation. Our aim is to fight consistently for the front positions – we’ve proven we can do it, and we believe we have everything needed for a strong 2026 campaign. We’re also eager to start our journey with Stefano. He proved his talent in WorldSSP and has already made a positive impression during testing. We’ll support him throughout his rookie season, confident we can achieve strong results and make steady progress. I’d like to thank Yamaha for their continued support, as well as all our partners, both returning and new, who will be crucial to our success.”
